Plainville, MA — Saratoga shipper Salt Life made his second start at Plainridge Park a winning one on Tuesday afternoon (April 19) after capturing the $20,000 featured pace for 5-year-olds and under in commanding fashion.

Salt Life surfed to victory in Tuesday’s featured pace at Plainridge Park. Tom Melanson photo.

Salt Life (Nick Graffam) took full advantage of class relief and went right to the front to control the pace. After seating the field, Graffam set moderate fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:25 over the track labeled “good.” At that third station, Mr Dunnigans (Shawn Gray) pulled from third and rushed towards the leader, trying to draw even in the turn. But Salt Life took his 1-1/2-length lead into the stretch and paced strongly to the wire to win in 1:54.2.

It was the first win of the year for Salt Life ($7.20), who is owned by his trainer Bruce Mattison along with Carmen Lemorta.

There were also two $17,500 condition events for 6-year-olds and under – one for fillies and mares, one for horses and geldings – and both provided exciting finishes.

In the distaff division, Line Em Up (Luke Hanners) sat the pocket behind Siri Blue Chip (Kevin Switzer Jr.) until the top of the stretch, where she found room at the pylons, took the lead and held off a late-closing Adashious Blue Chip (Drew Monti) to win by a half length in 1.55.2. It was the second win in a row for Line Em Up ($8.00), whom Jeff Lieberman trains for Michael Goldberg Racing.

In the boys’ split, Optical Illusion N (Jay Randall) followed the live cover of Umberto (Shawn Gray) at the half, who took the lead from the front-running Kick The Dirt Up (Brad Irvine) up the backstretch. Then, in the stretch, Optical Illusion N outdueled Umberto and held off a late-closing Miki U So Fine (Drew Monti) to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:54.

Optical Illusion N ($4.60) got his third win in only six starts this year for his trainer Lisa Zabielski, who owns him along with Kimberly Zabielski.

Driver Drew Monti won three races on Tuesday, all of whom were trained by Jimmy Nickerson, making them both leaders in their categories for the afternoon.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (April 21) at 4 p.m.